HELP! Wiring complications

[76cj7chick]

Hi everyone!

I've been banging my head against the wall for sometime trying to install a 21 circuit wiring harness in my 76 CJ7 from EZ wiring... I've emailed them and didn't get a response and I just left a vm earlier today.. But instead of waiting on them I thought I'd turn to you all for help...

The PO(s) did a scary job on the jeep... It had a lot of bare HOT wires, hanging ground and many other issues.. (I hope to get a video together and put the build on youtube or? )

I purchased a complete wiring harness hoping it would either have all the connectors (since my jeep lacked many) or had good wiring diagrams... Unfortunately, it didn't come with either....

The diagram has two headlight switches but neither are for my jeep. It also didn't tell me where to install the Orange Brake light Switch power (I think I figured it goes on the brake pedal switch?) But not sure yet...

If any one knows the wiring PLEASE let me know!

I still need to wire:
Brake Switch (white)
Backup light power
Left backup light
Left front park (brown)
Left tail park (brown)
fan wire
fan fan wire

PS. I have 3 jeep manuals, one of which is a technical manual but they are still quite vague about where wires go...But mostly perhaps because the POs have done so much wrong and since I am installing an aftermarket harness... But I would appreciate any ideas from the masters...

I have the brake combination valve on the frame of the jeep.. I figured out where to wire the one that goes to the parking brake to the dash warning light but am not sure where the other one is to be wired... The diagram looks like it is supposed to be spliced into the ignition somehow... Any ideas?

I have many other questions but won't throw them all at you right now...


Thank you again in advance....

 

[rr41mag]

A few of those you named are just going to be butt spliced to the light or a spade terminal to plug into the brake light switch.

 

[JR74CJ5]

I don't know how much this will help...

Jeep Wiring Diagrams - 1976 and 1977 CJ

Also a lot of good info here, though I did not search to see if any will help you specifically... Image Library ~ Rip and Pirate as you please... That's what the internet is all about!!! !

There are also very nice laminated color diagrams for purchase

PROSPERO'S GARAGE Presents:  11" x 17", Laminated, Full Original Color Wiring Diagrams for Motorcycles & Vintage Sports Cars!

Click Jeep and find year model...

Would have been easier / more useful from the start I suppose... But you may still have some need for them?



~ JR

 

[76cj7chick]

Thanks for your ideas and the diagrams... I may just be a too electrically handicapped because I have the same diagrams in my jeep books...

I guess I need to know where each wire goes... separately.. I've tried to write out each part--ex., the brake failure switch wiring diagram but I am still confused...

Does anyone have experience with installing a EZ wiring harness?
If yes, then would I have to splice the brake failure switch (from the vacuum connector on the jeep frame) into the ignition? If yes, please tell me which one...

I've never done this before(rewired a vehicle) , so perhaps I need to "chill" so I can concentrate better... :0

Is it safe to say that the LF park wire and LT park wire go on the Headlight switch?
Do they get crimped together? If yes, which prong? (P or R)....

Here is how I think the Headlight Switch should be wired:
B1 and H (B1 = Headlight Power Red) (H = Dimmer power light blue) Why? Using an voltmeter, They only connect when the headlight knob is pulled out all the way.. NO other prongs connect with these two....

on one pull out on the Headlight switch
B2 connects with P, R, and I...
Full pull out of HL Switch: B2 connects with R and (If I remember correctly) I.... (However, I don't have the diagram I drew in front of me..

Please let me know if that sounds right..

 

[76cj7chick]

Thanks for your reply..

I am having difficulty in finding my backup light switch.. The reverse lights did illuminate when I first got the jeep... But the PO did so much to it (mostly bad) I don't know where they "hid" the backup light swtich..
It wasn't on the column (I have a floor shift auto)
And I've looked all over the Transmission and Transfer Case and can't find a wire..
I did locate what I think is a two prong switch/bolt on top of the Transfer Case towards the right side of the jeep.. I may use my voltmeter to see if they have positive and negative leads...

 

[76cj7chick]

Here are some pics of the Tcase and Tranny...

First of all---Please let me know if I do have the GM Turbo 400 and if my Transfer Case is a 20.....

Also, the one prong switch is on the driverside of the Transmission .. Is it my kickdown switch?

Please identify all these pics...

 

[rr41mag]

Just chill out and take them one by one. It wont take as long as you think.

 

[76cj7chick]

Just chill out and take them one by one. It wont take as long as you think.

I will try to chill...

 

[76cj7chick]

I tried another jeep forum and they don't know how to id the Transfer Case even with the tag id and embossed id...

I'm still stuck......

Any one able to id the tranny? (By the way, the back up lights DID work when I first purchased the jeep) But I still can't find where the back up light switch was installed... Definitely was NOT on the column.....

What/where does the wires for the headlight go?
Do I use P for front and rear park lights??? Or do I use R for the rear tail lights? ---The back up switch wouldn't be on the headlight switch, right?

Thanks to everyone who has responded!!!
I know the jeep will one day get running again... but, earlier would be better...
:drool:

 

[Torxhead]

Well to start with if you have an virgin 1976-79 Jeep CJ7 and a GM Turbo 400 tranny, it was mated to a Borg-Warner 1339 QuadraTrac Transfer Case , this was a full time 4wd system. I recall hearing something about a 4wd switch located in the glovebox or something like that. I would think you should decide on whether you want to purchase a new wiring system or salvage the one you have. It would help to have a good wiring schematic, I recall reading somewhere on the net that somebody was selling blown up plastic coated colored diagrams. Doing my own wire work is a lot of fun for me anyways since it doesn't involve a lot of wrenching and grease.

 

[76cj7chick]

Well to start with if you have an virgin 1976-79 Jeep CJ7 and a GM Turbo 400 tranny, it was mated to a Borg-Warner 1339 QuadraTrac Transfer Case , this was a full time 4wd system. I recall hearing something about a 4wd switch located in the glovebox or something like that. I would think you should decide on whether you want to purchase a new wiring system or salvage the one you have. It would help to have a good wiring schematic, I recall reading somewhere on the net that somebody was selling blown up plastic coated colored diagrams. Doing my own wire work is a lot of fun for me anyways since it doesn't involve a lot of wrenching and grease.

The jeep's tranny is definitely not stock. According to the vin, it originally had a 3 speed manual tranny with a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l I-6 engine.
I think the t case is either a spicer/Dana 20 or 18... But I think it came out of a j-series truck.. At least according to one of my repair books..

The tag on the Transmission reads:
JR 75 1128
Which according to "HWOw to work with and modify the GM Turbo 400 hydramatic Transmission " By: ROn Sessions -- My Transmission came out of either a 360 or 401 V8 4wd quadra-trac J-series truck............. But then, my Haynes "Techbook" doesn't list my GM Turbo 400 as a "JR"... (Boy, its confusing...)

I totally agree with redoing the wiring... I'm almost finished with installing the new wiring harness by EZ Wiring.. However, I am having difficulty in figuring out where some of the wires go.. I've contacted EZ wiring twice (once through email and once left a vm) and haven't heard back from them..
Some of the diagrams they include aren't the same as my design. For ex. -They gave me two wiring diagram for the headlight switch but both of them are not the one I have.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Torxhead]

I would say odds are it is a Dana 20 Transfer Case and you seem to have a bulletproof combination. Since you have two diagrams for the lights does it seem possible you could make a modification in the wiring to get it to work?

 

[Cj5dave]

I used the EZ kit in my Jeep a couple years ago. Its a good kit but can get complicated when you are trying to make it work as a factory replacement. When I did mine I had eliminated the Jeep heater system, gauges, and ignition so that made wiring a bit easier.
Here is a couple diagrams that helped me when using the Jeep head light switch. And yes there are two power sources to the switch.




The brake failure switch will be located on the proportioning valve that is on the frame rail.
The parking brake switch will be on top of the parking brake mounting bracket.
The floor shifter should have the back up switch located in the shifter its self at the reverse detent.
The switch on your Transfer Case is the 4wd engaged light.

I hope this helps you along.

 

[73CJ]

Most of the 1 terminal switchs contact ground when activated and supply the ground to the circuit.

Not sure why the 21 circuit EZ was chosen. 12 would do nicely.

Try focusing on on issue at a time in the forum. EZer to answer one at a time than the shotgun approach.

Good luck!

 

[76cj7chick]

I would say odds are it is a Dana 20 Transfer Case and you seem to have a bulletproof combination. Since you have two diagrams for the lights does it seem possible you could make a modification in the wiring to get it to work?

Thanks for your thoughts..

 

[76cj7chick]

I used the EZ kit in my Jeep a couple years ago. Its a good kit but can get complicated when you are trying to make it work as a factory replacement. When I did mine I had eliminated the Jeep heater system, gauges, and ignition so that made wiring a bit easier.
Here is a couple diagrams that helped me when using the Jeep head light switch. And yes there are two power sources to the switch.




The brake failure switch will be located on the proportioning valve that is on the frame rail.
The parking brake switch will be on top of the parking brake mounting bracket.
The floor shifter should have the back up switch located in the shifter its self at the reverse detent.
The switch on your Transfer Case is the 4wd engaged light.

I hope this helps you along.

. I just "jumped in", so to speak, and wired the headlight switch according to my three repair manuals..
How does this sound?
With an ohmmeter I checked when the switches made contact when I pulled the light switch out and twisted the Rheostat here is how I wired.. (I am installing a EZ Wiring Harness with 21 circuit)
B1 = Headlight Power Red Gauge wire which only connected to the floor dimmer Switch. (in the picture b1 is battery 1 and ? is headlight )
Everything else appears the same...

However, do I need to connect the Dash Lights (orange wire) to the fuse box somewhere or just to the headlight switch and dash?

I also connected both Front and Rear Parking lights on the one that has P.


There are two wires coming from the brake failure switch on the frame rail. One I spliced into the emergency brake wire and then to the speedo brake light socket..

However, I am still confused about the second one.. Would you know if it is a ground wire? (Again, this is the two wires that come off of the valve combination brake failure switch on the left side of the frame).

And then, I have the two wires from EZ wiring labeled :Brake Switch Power (orange wire) and Brake Switch (White wire).. I tested to find the positive side of the Brake Switch located on the brake pedal light switch and connected the Orange wire on the + side.. I think I am to put the white wire on the - side... Please let me know if I am wrong...
(Both wires come from the rear of the vehicle and branch off to the steering column turn signal connector.)

The Transfer Case has the two prong "switch" on top of it.. Is there a way I can test to find the pos and neg too? --Would I do the same test that I did on the brake pedal light switch?

It's hard to feel for a reverse backup light switch on the shifter so I may take the floor/tub panel off to get a better view... (A neighbor said the floor shifter may be out of a older ford, perhaps a mustang, any ideas if the backup light switch location should still be on the lever?)-- I will take the floor panel off as soon as possible to get a better look...
THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!!!

I have three repair manuals but getting help from veteran cj enthusiasts help me to know that I am on the right track...

 

[76cj7chick]

Most of the 1 terminal switchs contact ground when activated and supply the ground to the circuit.

Not sure why the 21 circuit EZ was chosen. 12 would do nicely.

Try focusing on on issue at a time in the forum. EZer to answer one at a time than the shotgun approach.

Good luck!

I chose the 21 circuit so I can add an electric fan, and perhaps one day electric windows or some other fun stuff.. But you may be right about the 12 circuit harness... Oh well, some of the wires I rolling, zip-tied and end-capped the wires but I may pull the fuses...

 

[76cj7chick]

. I just "jumped in", so to speak, and wired the headlight switch according to my three repair manuals..
How does this sound?
With an ohmmeter I checked when the switches made contact when I pulled the light switch out and twisted the Rheostat here is how I wired.. (I am installing a EZ Wiring Harness with 21 circuit)
B1 = Headlight Power Red Gauge wire which only connected to the floor dimmer Switch. (in the picture b1 is battery 1 and ? is headlight )
Everything else appears the same...

However, do I need to connect the Dash Lights (orange wire) to the fuse box somewhere or just to the headlight switch and dash?

I also connected both Front and Rear Parking lights on the one that has P.


There are two wires coming from the brake failure switch on the frame rail. One I spliced into the emergency brake wire and then to the speedo brake light socket..

However, I am still confused about the second one.. Would you know if it is a ground wire? (Again, this is the two wires that come off of the valve combination brake failure switch on the left side of the frame).

And then, I have the two wires from EZ wiring labeled :Brake Switch Power (orange wire) and Brake Switch (White wire).. I tested to find the positive side of the Brake Switch located on the brake pedal light switch and connected the Orange wire on the + side.. I think I am to put the white wire on the - side... Please let me know if I am wrong...
(Both wires come from the rear of the vehicle and branch off to the steering column turn signal connector.)

The Transfer Case has the two prong "switch" on top of it.. Is there a way I can test to find the pos and neg too? --Would I do the same test that I did on the brake pedal light switch?

It's hard to feel for a reverse backup light switch on the shifter so I may take the floor/tub panel off to get a better view... (A neighbor said the floor shifter may be out of a older ford, perhaps a mustang, any ideas if the backup light switch location should still be on the lever?)-- I will take the floor panel off as soon as possible to get a better look...
THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!!!

I have three repair manuals but getting help from veteran cj enthusiasts help me to know that I am on the right track...

Bump...... Any ideas? (or should I start a new thread)

 

[jeeperz]

As far as i can tell,from looking at the factory diagram. The brake failure switch should ground out to turn on the brake idicator light. the indicator light originates it feed from the ingnition switch. The emergency brake pedal also grounds out to turn on the brake indicator light.

hope this helps

 

[76cj7chick]

As far as i can tell,from looking at the factory diagram. The brake failure switch should ground out to turn on the brake idicator light. the indicator light originates it feed from the ingnition switch. The emergency brake pedal also grounds out to turn on the brake indicator light.

hope this helps

Umm.... :0 Not really... But I'm sure I'll get it one day ...